Let me begin with a simple admission. I don’t know much about gardening. Until a few weeks ago, I had never planted a seed, or maintained houseplants. My thumbs weren’t green, they were red and swollen from playing Xbox. I had never given much thought to the source of the fresh food I consume or its impact, but recently I’ve started to experiment with growing my own.

I live in the city and although I have a small yard, I have to occasionally share it with a family of local raccoons and other creatures. After several attempts at raising outdoor crops which accomplished little more than providing raccoon snacks, I decided to move my efforts indoors.

Two south-facing window spots offered enough sun and so I started experimenting. Within days the various plants were all responding well and so the experiments grew.

Traditional flower pots and planters were soon replaced by big black plastic storage bins from Office Depot which were less expensive and more efficient. I MacGuvered some one-gallon water bottles into hanging topsy turvy-style planters and tried a variety of vines, including tomatoes, pole beans, cucumbers and peppers.

Hanging crops above other plants is a great way to maximize the amount of growing space and conserve water, and it wasn’t long before the notion of “hanging water bottles” was upgraded and replaced by a complete garden row of inverted plants, all in black bins with holes drilled in them, effectively doubling the garden size. (12 ft by 1.5 ft)

Initial harvests have been small as I figure out what crops work, but so far have I’ve enjoyed basil, tomatoes, romaine, yellow and burgundy beans and one tiny potato.

Everyone seems to be putting their DIY projects into Altoids tins and other candy containers. I’ve been collecting these small containers for a while but didn’t have a use for them until now. The Altoids Garden.

These tiny succulents cuttings and small herbs seem to be thriving in organic potting soil. I water them a few times a day.

A single cutting in organic soil covered with black stones. A tiny bonsai in a promotional CD case. They will likely stay small with such a small volume of soil. They should be misted a few times a day but don’t overwater. A light covering of stones will help keep the soil moist. Perfect for the office.

I really know very little about plants. However, all of these small succulents are native to Northern CA and are very hearty. I plucked them out of my yard like weeds. They require minimal care and watering. The Banzai were chosen based on small size. I have one that is a Pine, and a few others I don’t know. I also grew cat grass and other sprouting seeds. The only plant that didn’t last long were the herbs, because they need to grow – the succulents and Banzai are content to remain small.